Middle School Teachers

Originally from Southern California, Adam attended the University of California-Berkeley, where he received a Bachelors degree in Peace & Conflict Studies. Then, he attended American University in Washington, D.C., where he received a Masters degree in US History. Finally, he received his Masters in Teaching, with a focus on Secondary English Language Arts, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR.

Adam started his K-12 teaching career at a dual language immersion (English-Spanish) K-12 school in Costa Rica, where he taught 8th and 9th grade English Language Arts, and served as the K-12 Librarian and Resource Specialist. More recently, he completed his practicum at Madison High School, where he worked with 9th grade English Language Arts students and English Language Learners in grades 9-12.

Adam’s work as an educator is guided by the belief that young people learn best when they have a trusting relationship with their peers and teachers, the chance to explore the topics and issues that matter to them most, and a clear sense of how their learning connects to their own lives, and the world outside the classroom.

Farrah AndersonMiddle School Social Studiesemail hidden; JavaScript is required

Having spent most of her life in Northeast Portland, Farrah chose Portland State University for her undergraduate education in Art History. While at PSU, she worked on an archaeological dig in Tunisia, excavating Leptiminus, an ancient Roman village.

Then, she attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, where she received a Masters degree in Art History, with a focus in Hindu art. She recently completed a second Masters degree, in Teaching, with a focus on secondary social studies and art.

Since graduation, Farrah has been substitute teaching in Portland, trying to find her “favorite school to sub at.” It was Trillium! Here, she discovered a love for progressive, alternative education. The crux of her educational philosophy is that learning should not be painful. Challenging, at times, but fun at the core. A self-proclaimed history nerd, she is especially committed to making history fun, and always comes prepared with fun facts on Star Wars, coffee, 80s music, and the sacred chickens of Rome.